Method of extinguishing fires



Sept. 24, 1940. H ENsMlNG'ER 2,216,072 I 4MTHOIJCF Ex'TINeUIsHn-IG FIRES Filed DeC. 14, 1938 gmc/who@ Patented Sept. 24, 1940 UNITED STATES lVIETHOD F EXTINGUISHING FIRES Harry Ensminger, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Cardox Corporation, Chicago, l1l., a corporation'of Illinois Application December 14, 1938, Serial No. 245,775 A 12 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in re extinguisher discharge devices and methods primarily intended'for use with carbon dioxide restrained under a high pressure.

The primary` object of this invention is to provide a discharge device and method for carbon dioxide capable of applying the extinguishing mediumin an extremely cold condition directly to `the fire in ajmanner to effectamazing extinguishing results due to its ability to penetrate crevices and travel over and around obstructions, spreading in three dimensions;

LA. further important object of the invention is fto provide v a discharge device and method for ,carbon dioxide, when used as a fire extinguishing medium, whichis capable of delivering the medium at the proper densities and velocities for the eiicient extinguishing of class A, B and C fires.

Still another'object of .the invention is to pro- 20.vide a ldevice which is capable of discharging carbon dioxide through a plurality of stages of expansionand to set u p a turbulence which will result in producing an extremely high yield of snow but without causing anyof the discharge 25 control'surfaces to become encrusted with the snow. t

A still further object of the invention. is to provide a discharge device for carbon dioxide which is capable of producing al high yield of snow; which is capable of causing the small particles of4 snow produced by expansion of the carbon dioxideto combine into larger flakes, and which l,is capable of eiecting final discharge o"f themedium'at a plurality of different velocities 35l and degrees of densityto more effectively extinguish different vclasses of fires. lAnother object ofthe invention is to provide a method for converting liquid carbon dioxide into an extremely effective fire extinguishing 4,0i medium. l Other objects and advantages of the-invention will be apparent during the course of the following description. In the accompanying drawing forminga part 45 of this specification and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Figure 1 is a central longitudinal sectional view of a fire extinguisher discharge device em- 50 bodying this invention and taken on line I- A-I of Fig. 2, and Y Figure 2 is an end elevational view of the dischargedevice disclosedinFig. 1.

In the drawing, wherein `for the purpose of ,-,5 illustration is shown the preferred embodiment of this invention, the reference character 5 desig- 6g unit and includes a stem portion S and an outor shaped to provide a series of` concentric, pronates in vits entirety the body of there extinwardly ared nozzle portion 1. One end of the stem 6 is provided with an exteriorly screw threaded nipple 8 by means of which the device may be suitably connected to any appropriate source of supply of carbon dioxide conned at a 6 high pressure. This discharge device may be employed in connection with a source of supply where the carbon dioxide is maintained at 'a controlled, sub-atmospheric temperature and in liquid form or in connection with a source of supply of carbon dioxide wherein the extinguishing medium is subjected to the temperature of the surrounding atmosphere. Furthermore, the discharge device may be directly attached to a portable or hand-operated extinguisher, the discharge end of `a hose'line, or a pipe of a xed sprinkler system.

The stem B is cored to form the longitudinally extending duct 9 which communicates at its inner end -with the transversely extending duct I0. One end of the duct I0 opens -into a longitudinally extendingduct II. A reduced extension I2 is provided at the inner end of the duct I I and functions as a bearingv or guide in a manner to be explained at a later point. 'I'he remaining'end of the duct II opens into the interior of fthe flared nozzle 'I and functions as a discharge orice I3. w

The interior surface of the nozzle 1 is formed gressively or successively functioning, annular grooves I4, l5, I6, I1 and I8. The grooves Il to I-l, inclusive, are of curved formation in profile or section and the curvature of each one of these grooves is formed on a radius which may vary from 4% to 20% of the internalmean orfaverage diameter of the nozzle. The annular groove I8, which is the outermost'groove, is ofsubstantially L -shape in prole or section with the shorter branch I8 a arranged at the edge of the nozzle 'mouth Arranged within the orifice I3 and operating to control the effective area of said orifice is a tapered or substantially frusto-conically shaped valve I9. This valve body extends partly within the duct lvl and partly'within the cavity o r interior of the nozzle l". At the inner end of the valve body" I9, a guiding 'stem 20 is provided which is 'slidably received within the bearing or guide` I2. It will be appreciated'that by moving the`valve I9 axially inwardly-and outwardly, the total area of the dischargev orice' I may be varied and by moving the valve I `9 into itsfinnrmost position, where it actually contactsthe edge of the orice I3, ilowthrough the-oriilce may be |9 and the united deilector discs 2|, 22 and 23 is a threaded stem 24 which is threadedly a'djustably received within an aperture formed in a bar 26 which This bar-1f` traverses the mouth of the nozzle 1. may be formed integrally with the discharge edge of the nozzle or it may be formed as a separate member, see Fig. 2, which is joined to the lugs Z'I by means of the fastening devices 28.

Swiveled to the outer end of the threaded stem 24 is a bar type handle 29. This handle is intended to cooperate with axially extending stop pins 3|] and 3| carried by the bar 2B.

Themethod of operation of this discharge device may be described as follows.

When the handle 29. is in the full line position illustrated in Figs. l and 2, the valve I9 is seated against the edge of the orifice I3 and carbon dioxide will not be discharged into the nozzle When the handle 29 is actuated to move it up over the extremity of the stop pin and into the dotted line position at the right of Fig. 2, the valve body I9 is moved away from the edge of the discharge orifice |3 a sumcient distance to permit a continuous discharge of carbon dioxide into' the nozzle 'I for the extinguishment of B and C fires. When the handle is manipulated to further rotate the threaded stem 24 in a counterclockwise direction until the handle engages stop pin 3| and occupies the dotted line position shown at the left of Fig. 2, a continuous discharge of carbon dioxide is obtained which is suitable for extinguishing class A fires.

The carbon dioxide discharged through the orifice |3, when the valve I9 is in either of its open positions, impinges against the inner delector disc 2| and is caused to change its direction of flow from axially to radially of the nozzle. This first defiector disc 2| cooperates with the annular grooves I4 and I5 and the inner end wall: of the nozzle to form what will be-,termed a first stage expansion chamber. As the carbon. dioxide is admitted to this iirst chamber, it exy As the carbon dioxide mixture iiows axially of the nozzle past the periphery of the inner deiiector disc 2|, it is caused to impinge upon the second or intermediate defiector disc 22 and again changes its direction of travel from axially to radially of the nozzle. The space between the two deiiector discs 2| and'22 and the annular impingement and the 4change in direction of ilow produced by the' deilector disc 22 causes more snow particles to,.join,or unite to form larger snow flakes. In this second stage' expansion chamber, the annular groove I6 also functions to produce turbulence.

As the mixture flows around the periphery of the second or intermediate disc 22, it impinges against the outer disc 23 and is again caused to change its direction of ilow from axially to radially of the nozzle. A third stage expansion chamber is formed by the discs 22 and 23 and ',the annular groove |'I. The contour of this annular groove I1 results in the formation of a turbulence within the third stage expansion chamber. Additional snow is formed in this third stage chamber'and, due to impingement against the disc 23 and the change in the direction of ilow, additional large flakes of carbon dioxide snow are formed. y

The mixture of carbon dioxide gas and snow finally passes around the periphery of the outer deflector disc 23 and outwardly of the nozzle l through its open mouth. 'I'he outermost annular groove I8 functions to control the character of discharge streams; i. e., this particular groove 'contour or prole prevents the discharged extinguishing medium from flaring or spreading to too great an extent radially or perpendicularly of the axis of the nozzle.

Permitting the carbon dioxide mixture to expand in each one of the three chambers naturally has the effect of lowering the velocity of the final discharge. This velocity of iinal discharge also is varied by movement of the valve I3 inwardly and outwardly with respect to the oriiice I3. The velocity of discharge, naturally, is lower when the handle 29 is arranged in engagement with the stop pin 30 than it is when the handle is in engagement with the stop pin 3|. This is due to the fact that the total area'. of the orifice I3 is less when the handle engages the pin 30. Movement of the deflector discs 2|, 22 and 23 inwardly and outwardly relative to the grooves I4 to I1, inclusive, has the effect of varying the degree of turbulence created in the respective expansion chambers and, of course, varies the amount or yield of snow produced by this discharge device.

The grooves Il to I1, inclusive, have been described above as `being formed ony radii which may varyfrom 4% to 20% of the mesne or average diameter-of the interior ofthe nozzle 1. This range has been found to be critical for radii greater than,20% are not effective in creating turbulence and radii less than 4% result in causing ice to form in the grooves with the result that they will lose their effectiveness as turbulence creating means.

It has been found that discharge of carbon di- It is to be understood that the formA of this invention herewith shown and. described isl to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size, and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit ofthe invention -or the scope of the subjoined claims. groove I6 acts as a second stage expansion Having thus described the invention, I claim:

1. 'I'he method of employing carbon dioxide as a fire extinguishing medium which comprises discharging carbon dioxide through a constricted orifice to'produce a. mixture' of carbon dioxide gas and smallparticles of snow, effecting radial expansion ofthe discharged medium in a series of l successively occurring stages and creating. turbulcnc in eachstageof expansion to'fproduce` ed orice to produce a mixture of gas and small particles of snow, 'effecting radial expansion of the discharge medium in a series of successively l; occurring stages and creating turbulence in each stage of expansion to produce additional snow, subjecting the mixture during each stage of expansion to the shock of impingement and to a change in direction of travel to cause the small particles of snow to join to form large snow flakes, and finally discharging the resultant mixture of gaseous and solid carbon dioxide to the atmosphere for application to a fire.

3. The method of employing carbon dioxide as a re extinguishing mediulrnl which comprisesl discharging carbon dioxide through a constricted orifice to produce a mixture of carbon dioxide gas and small particles of snow, effecting radial expansion of the discharged medium in a series of successivelyoccurring stages to produce additional snow, and finally discharging the resultant mixture of gaseous and solid carbon dioxide to the atmosphere for application to a ire.

4. The method of employing carbon dioxide as a iire extinguishing medium which comprises discharging carbon dioxide througha constricted oriiice to produce a mixture of gas and small particles of snow, eiectingv radial expansion of the discharge medium in a series of successively occurring stages to produce additional snow, subjecting the mixture during each stage of expansion to the shock of impingement and to a change in, direction of travel to cause the small particles of snow to unite to form large snow flakes, and

finally discharging the resultant mixture ofv gaseous and solid carbon dioxide to the atmosphere for application to a re.

5. The method of employing vcarbon dioxide as a iire extinguishing medium which comprises discharging carbon dioxide through a constricted oriilce to produce a mixture of gas and small particles of snow, forming said mixture into a hollow stream, effecting radial expansion of the hollow stream in a series of successively occurring stages and creating turbulence in each stage of expansion to produce additional snow, and finally discharging the resultant mixture of gaseous and solid carbon dioxide to the atmosphere for application to a fire.

6. The method of employing carbon dioxide as a're extinguishing medium which comprises discharging carbon dioxide through a constricted orifice to produce a mixture of gas and small particles of snow, forming said mixture into a hollow stream, effecting radial expansion of the hollow stream in a series of successively occurring stages, and finally discharging the lresultant mixture of gaseous and solid carbon dioxide to the atmosphere for application to a rire.

7. The method of employing carbon dioxide as a re extinguishing medium which comprises discharging carbon dioxide through a constricted orifice to produce a mixture of gas and small particles of snow, forming said mixture into fa hollow stream, veffecting radial expansion of the change in direction of'travel to cause the small v particles of snow to join to form large snow iiakes,

and finally discharging the resultant mixture of gaseous and solid carbon dioxide to the atmosphere for application to a re.

8. The method of employing carbon dioxide as a fire extinguishing medium which comprises discharging carbon dioxide through a constricted orifice to produce a mixture of gas and small particles o f snow, forming said mixture into a hcllow stream, effecting radial expansion of the discharge medium. in `a series of successively occurring stages to produce additional snow, sub- `jecting the mixture during each stage of expansion to the shock of impingement and to a change in direction of travel to cause the small particles of snow to unite to form large snow flakes, and finally discharging the resultant mixture of gaseous and solid carbon dioxide to the atmosphere for application to a fire.

' 9. The method of employing carbon dioxide as a iire extinguishing medium which comprises discharging carbon dioxide through a constricted orice to produce a mixture of carbon dioxide gas and small particles of snow, subjecting the discharge medium to a series of successively occurring shocks of impingement and changes in Y direction of travel to cause the small particles of snow to join to form large snow ilakes, and finally discharging the resultant mixture of gaseous and solid carbon dioxide to the atmosphere for application to a re.

10. The method of employing carbon dioxide as a re extinguishing medium which comprises discharging carbon dioxide through a constrict-f ed orifice to produce a mixture of gas and small particles of snow, forming said mixture into a hollow stream, subjecting the discharged medium to a series of successively occurring shocks of impingement and changes in direction of travel to cause the small particles of snow to join to form large snow akes, and finally discharging the resultant mixture of gaseous andsolid carbon dioxide to the atmosphere for application to are.

11. The method of employing carbon dioxide as a fire extinguishing medium which comprises discharging carbon -dioxide through a constricted orifice to produce a mixture of carbon dioxide gas and small particlesof snow, subjecting the discharged mediurn to a series of successively occurring shocks of impingement and changes in direction of travel to cause the small particles of snow to join to form large snow flakes, yconci'irrently creating lturbulence with each succeeding shock of impingement and change in direction of travel, andfinally discharging the resultant mixture of gaseous and solid carbon dioxide to the atmosphere for application to a re.

12. The method of employing carbon dioxide as a iire extinguishing medium which comprises discharging carbon dioxide through a constricted orifice to produce a mixture of gas andsmall particles of snow, forming said mixture into a hollow stream, subjecting the discharge medium to a series of successively occurring shocks o! impingement and changes in direction of travel to cause the small particles of snow t0 join to form large snow flakes, concurrently creating turbulence with each succeeding shock of iin--v pingement and change in direction of travel, andv 

